Don't cook your peeps!

[allpeepedout]

I also melted a plastic thermometer during testing. 250W was too cold where I had it, so lowered lamp just .5 inch, and within a couple of minutes returned to melted plastic. It had felt ok under my hand.

Replaced with 125W red. Even using that, I had one heat stressed baby that just collapsed at 95+, too young to move away, and others started panting. Mine did better at 90-95. The stressed one recovered.

I think this guideline of 95-100 degrees first week needs flexibility, especially as people seem to be using things like plastic tubs with no ventilation.

 

[lynnolekas]

Hey TrystInn ~
What is the breed of the bird that is your avatar?

 

[Rooneytune]

Quote:
This is a really good question... do I need to find a way to heat them w/o light? I am using a 60 wtt bulb (they seem to be warm enough) but I am leaving it on all the time... I feel a little like I have set up a sleep deprivation room

 

[amylou22]

I have a 85 watt red bulb going now. It got up to 90, I repositioned and I am running a second "test".

 

[Borncountry419]

I have found that the best and easiest way is to not try heat the entire brooder. Keep the lamp in one end about a foot through a foot and a half high. The chicks will use it like they use a mother hen. When they need warmth, they run under it, otherwise they mill about the rest of the brooder. With this method you know that the chicks won't get too hot or too cold. Just be sure that the brooder is large enough for them to get away from the heat when need be.

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

I just had this same experience myself. I am almost positive we did not use a 250 watt bulb the last time. I just set up the lamp to hang from my chain hoist in my shop where the chickens are. Now I can just use the chain hoist to raise and lower the light. The brooder is the bottom half of a large dog crate with a wood frame & hardware cloth top and a wood door to swing up. The top is screwed down nice and secure. I should grab some photos and post them up. I may build a bigger one, but am torn... I might just move them out to the coop with a heat lamp and keep them closed up. The last time around, it was the usual race to get the coop done, but now it's just been sitting ready to house the birds again. They can stay in the dog crate "Chick-Inn" for a few more weeks of-course.

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

I wouldn't worry, Rooneytune! My peeps weren't sleep deprived....I think if they have always had the light on it is what they are used to. Mine were like babies (and puppys)...they just kind of passed out when they got tired. It was funny! Feet up in air sometimes!

This year I am raising 4 peeps for me and 10 for my neighbor. They will be here the week of April 5th! I am setting up an old dog exercise pen in the room with my bunny. 14 peeps is too many for the little guinea pig cage. I'm going to put a light at each end of the pen....we'll see what happens!